In an effort to separate fact from fiction

Just shifting gears a bit this evening and focusing on the complications of Civil War-era memory at the level of a small community. By no means is the following some earth-shattering historical finding, but I use it here to give an example of how we should take care in interpreting what we read… and what is told to us in family stories.

When I first located an article in the Page News & Courier from 1920 recounting the appearance of abolitionist John Brown in Luray, I was skeptical but excited at the possible addition of such an interesting event to the recorded history of Page County. After contacting both the National Park Service at Harpers Ferry and two prominent Civil War-era historians, I became more skeptical as it appears rumors of John Brown’s appearance at several different towns in the middle Shenandoah Valley seem to have been more folklore than fact.

But, there were several aspects to the story that can easily be confirmed. For one, the “setting” for the story was the John Lionberger house (also known as the W.M. Rosser house) along Main Street in Luray. Additionally, the person (Mrs. Mary Yager) who conveyed the story to the PN&C was a steady flow of information regarding the Lionbergers during that time.

Though no specific dates were mentioned as to Brown’s “arrival” in Luray, if true, it seems likely that it would have occured in the late summer/early fall of 1859. The story from the newspaper follows:

Brown came here disguising his real purpose and as that was a day when strangers were few and hospitality was the universal rule he found entertainment in the home of John Lionberger, one of the most prominent men of Luray. Mr. Lionberger was an anti-secessionist like numerous people in Virginia, and possibly Brown sought him out for this reason.

All at once the doors of the Lionberger home were closed to the insurrectionist [John Brown] for Mr. Lionberger detected the mysterious guest often engaged in conversation with the slaves at his home and elsewhere. A very urgent invitation to leave town was at once extended the abolitionist who but a few weeks later was captured after the famous episode at Harpers Ferry and later was hanged.

Considering Brown’s activities in “Bloody Kansas” were well known by this time, there is little doubt that if he did come to Luray, he disguised not only his intent but also his name. This is where Clement Evans’ Confederate Military History comes into play. The source states that Brown apparently did a bit of leg work in the Shenandoah Valley a few months prior to his attack on the Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Brown, “under the assumed name of Isaac Smith, appeared in the neighborhood of Harpers Ferry about the 1st of July, 1859, and there is evidence to show that he extended his examination of the country for future strategic purposes, as far up the Shenandoah Valley as Staunton, concealing his purposes by giving out that he was a farmer from New York, with his two sons and a son-in-law, desiring to rent or purchase land.”

As for Brown’s “host” John Lionberger, according to more than one story I have seen, Lionberger was indeed an anti-secessionist… and also owned slaves. He, along with John Shuler of Grove Hill (who had freed his slaves and later had a son in the service of the Stonewall Brigade), and Dr. James Lee Gillespie of near Alma, had all been known to give anti-secession speeches in the county (one which took place at Newport was well-documented in later years by Isaac Shuler) on the eve of the Civil War, whereas the same articles that cited this, also provided the names of a few other men in the county who were ardent secessionists – Benjamin Grayson and Peter B. Borst being among the men named.

So, the question remains, did John Brown really visit Luray (and the central Shenandoah Valley) or was this simply a tall-tale generated around a smaller incident in which a person, in the spirit of abolition (who happened to be in Luray at some point prior to the war), stirred-up a little trouble? Maybe one day some solid proof will surface and shed some light. Fact of the matter is however, that a person would be hard-pressed to find someone in Luray today who has even heard the story about Brown coming to Luray.

Siram Henkel of Plains Mill near New Market recorded some things in his farming journal that relate to the John Brown affair and may contribute to this blog. His teenage sons were in the local militia at that time. A northern stranger shows up to work at Siram’s mill shortly after the trial of John Brown. The next day, Luther takes him to Timberville – not sure if the man was already in Luther’s custody, or if Luther took him into custody after an incident.

The next day the man is scheduled to have a trial at Harrisonburg. The next day there is a court martial – not sure if it is for the same man in question, just a day later than scheduled. The next day Luther looks for the other abolitionist across the river – not sure who that would be. A couple of weeks later, a cousin from the north writes a letter and refers to Luther taking a man by the name of Marian. Frank Meriam was one in the raiding party who escaped. A few days later Luther does guard duty at John Brown’s hanging.

Based on these records, it seems plausible that the abolitionists could have scouted and become familiar with the area before the raid. The quotes are given below:

1859 Jul 4 (Journal) Sons Luther and Samuel were in town in the afternoon and mustered in the light horse company.

1859 Aug 6 (Journal) Son Samuel was all day in town at the mustering of the light horse company.

1859 Oct 1 (Journal) Son Samuel mustered at the Plains and then went to town and mustered with the light horse company.

October 16-18, 1859. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry
Francis Jackson Meriam was left behind as a rear guard. He and several others escaped but were never captured.

Oct. 25-Nov. 2, 1859. Trial of John Brown.

1859 Nov 8 (Journal) This morning a new hand from the state of New York commenced digging in the foundation of the saw mill.

1859 Nov 9 (Journal) The New York man dug in the foundation of the saw mill… This evening son Luther took the New York man to Timberville and on to-morrow he is to have a trial.

1859 Nov 10 (Journal) Son Luther and Henry Neff’s son started from Timberville with the New York man for Harrisonburg, Luther has not returned yet.

1859 Nov 11 (Journal) Sons Samuel and Luther went over to court martial, Luther came home in the evening, but Samuel has not returned yet.

1859 Nov 12 (Journal) Son Luther started to the “Forrest” this morning to look for the other Abolitionist.

1859 Nov 30 (Letter) Ellen Henkel to Caspar Coiner Henkel
Stewartsville N J.
Sue wrote me that Luther had taken a man by the name of Marian I wish she had given me all the particalers I hope they may all be caught & hung two or three times. I have been reading all the papers.

1859 Dec. 2. John Brown is hung.

1859 Dec 2 (Journal) Son Luther returned to New Market from Charlestown this evening.

(From “The History of Shenandoah County,” page 295, by John Wayland)
“The Spirit of Democracy,” a newspaper published in New Market before the Civil War, in its issue of December 9, 1859, has a notice of the departure of the Tenth Legion Artillery for Charlestown… to do guard duty in connection with the trial and execution of John Brown… Luther Henkel, Private. (age 17)